Hudson Back, Rejuvenated, Ready to Lead Gators

Hudson Back, Rejuvenated, Ready to Lead Gators

Friday, June 8, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry

UF's scoring leader, 6-6 swingman Jalen Hudson, removed his name from the NBA underclassmen draft pool last week.

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — During the first few weeks of offseason workouts, Jalen Hudson went back and forth on what he was going to do.

Nike ball one day.

Spalding ball the next.

The former is used by the University of Florida, the latter by the NBA. Once Hudson, the 6-foot-6 swingman, submitted his name into the NBA underclassmen draft pool after his junior season, it only made sense to get used to the feel of the Spalding version. But since he did not hire an agent (and thus was eligible to return to school, if he wanted), Hudson took turns drilling with the Nike, as well.

As Hudson alternated balls, he alternated thoughts of his short-term future throughout the months of April and May. Until last week, that is, as the deadline to make a decision loomed, and the scoring leader for UF'a 2017-18 squad announced he would return to play for the Gators his senior season.

"I just felt like I owed it to myself to go through the process, try it and see what was out there, because I've always had the dream of playing in the NBA," Hudson said after a practice earlier this week. "I knew the option of coming back to improve and become more of a leader was always there. Now that I'm back, we've got work to do. We want to win championships here."

Hudson started just 19 of 34 games, but averaged a team-best 15.5 points (that ranked 12th in the Southeastern Conference) and shot 45.5 percent from the floor, 40.4 from the 3-point line, and grabbed 3.9 rebounds per game. He had a career-high 35 points in UF's double-overtime against Gonzaga at the PK80 Invitational at Portland, Ore. He went for 16 in a huge road win at Kentucky, with a key defensive play in the final three seconds to secure the victory in late-January. Hudson averaged nearly 23 a game as the Gators won their final three regular-season outings over three NCAA Tournament bound teams in SEC co-champion Auburn, Alabama and UK, respectively.

His name showed up in a few mock drafts as a potential second-round pick, with the feedback Hudson received from NBA evaluators basically a mixed bag. Ultimately, he made the choice to finish what he started after transferring from Virginia Tech in June of 2015, sitting out the '15-16 season, and making a huge impact as a fourth-year junior.

"There's nothing wrong with not being guaranteed as first-round pick, which wasn't expected anyway," UF coach Mike White said. "Jalen had a really, really good year. He made a lot of headway. He built his brand. There should be a lot of positivity he's feeling right now, and he also has the feedback from the NBA as far as what he needs to improve on to be in a better spot next year."

Defense, rebounding, passing, ball-handling and (again) defense come to mind.

Jalen Hudson gets high-fived on his way through the Rowdy Reptile celebration line after scoring 22 in UF's 72-66 win over 10th-ranked Auburn on Feb. 24 at Exactech Arena.

Hudson, on track to graduate with a telecommunications degree in August, is a gifted scorer and charismatic player — a guy who can go get a shot, but also make difficult ones — and immediately becomes a headliner for the 2018-19 Gators, alongside fellow senior and shooting guard KeVaughn Allen. Those two, plus senior center Kevarrius Hayes and fourth-year junior Keith Stone, make up the returning core of starting minutes from a team that went 21-13, finished third in the SEC and reached the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season, before falling to third-seeded Texas Tech in second-round play of the East Region.

UF also will have back key reserves in guards Mike Okauru and Deaundrae Ballard, as well as center Dontay Bassett, and figure to benefit from a trio of frontcourt players — junior center Gorjok Gak, plus sophomore Chase Johnson and Isaiah Stokes — who weren't healthy at any time last season.

The 6-11 Gak underwent knee surgery in April and is a month away from running on the the Anti-Gravity treadmill. Johnson, the 6-9 forward who went into concussion protocol after just four games (and stayed there the rest of his freshman season), has built himself into terrific shape and definitely figures into the season's plans. So does the 6-8 Stokes, who missed the entire season with a knee injury suffered in high school. Stokes is playing 5-on-5 half court (and was the best offensive player at practice Tuesday), but still has a ways to go with his conditioning and won't be cleared for full court action until Summer "B" term. Both Stokes and Johnson are waiting to hear from the NCAA regarding medical hardship petitions. If granted, they will go into the season as redshirt freshmen.

Three true freshmen, all perimeter players, including five-star point guard Andrew Nembhard, are due in next month.

After a season when the Gators were a perimeter-dominated bunch, Hudson likes the potential of this team's makeup and balance.

"I'm not at all worried about our front court," he said. "We're going to have five guys on our front line. We're going to be deep at every position and have a roster that can do some of everything."

The return of Hudson, with his scoring punch, is significant.

"He's just a really good offensive player who brings a lot to the team, on and off the court," Hayes said. "He does a good job of talking to the team, getting the energy going with his constant voice. Last year, the second half of the season, he really started to become more vocal. Even when he struggled with his defensive lapses, he was a great talker and always was encouraging us. Now that he's coming back, we'll have another guy on the floor who will talk, be a senior and provide experience and leadership."

And (again) scoring.